Nakano Clinic Report

This clinic was held at the Saito-dojo located in Birmingham YMCA, Birmingham, Michigan on Saturday, May 17, 2014.

The clinic was started on time at 1 pm with introduction of Nakano-sensei by the host Noboru Saito. Nakano sensei taught importance of basics such as grip (what part of fingers to put the pressure), location of hikite (pulling) with hand near the partner’s forearm near the elbow, tsurite’s location and how to place tsurite hand to the partner’s chest, first step foot position and height of that knee (weight on) , then hikite pulling direction, and taisaki speed (two step entry), etc.

First, Nakano-sensei started with throwing techniques: he showed his Taiotoshi (about 40 minutes), then to Kouchigari for another 30 minutes. After his demonstration, students tried the techniques with Nakano-sensei making corrections as they practiced. Students asked many questions and Nakano-sensei took time to answer by showing and explaining more about his Taiotoshi and Kouchigari. After about 10 minutes break, he showed us a turn-over that was easy to understand, with four ‘what-if” cases from the first position.

After about 10 minutes break, he showed us a turn-over that was easy to understand, with four ‘what-if” cases from the first position.

After a break for group pictures, we had free practice session for 40 minutes, starting with 5 rounds of newaza randori and then 8 rounds, 3 minutes each, of standing randori.

Over all, students were very happy to learn from Nakano-sensei and enjoyed his demonstration of techniques.

This clinic was partially funded by a USJF Development Grant of $500 through Konan Yudanshai. The grant was used to help pay for a reasonable instruction fee for Nakano-sensei. Thank you very much to USJF and Konan for making this grant – without this grant it would have been very difficult to hold this clinic.

Personal thank you’s to Mrs. Julie Koyama (USJF Development Chair), and Mr. James Murray (Konan President) for this grant assistance, to Mr. Neil Simon for securing the sanction, to Pete Catlos and Dan Mitoraj for additional financial support for the clinic, and, most importantly, to Mr. Shintaro Nakano to come to Detroit area from San Jose to share his great technical knowledge of judo by conducting this great clinic for Michigan Judo students.